Amazing state secondary schools... Anywhere in the UK!

DAOS in Potters Bar is no.1 on that top 100 list. My DSs loved it ... yes, it's known for the academics but it was the extra-curricular music/sport and languages which impressed me. Not for the faint-hearted ... one of mine who got AAA was considered on the dim side.

Yes but the percentages are far from accurate. Some of the schools are not any longer that good and schools that are better are not even listed. A lot can change in even a year time.

I say that in those threads but my DC's school is definitely not sufficiently amazing (and was below average for GCSE results last year, which I suspect would wipe it off OP's list) to move house to be near it.

I'm sure it applies to some of the posters, but this statement is often private school parents feeling the need to justify their choice. (Otherwise it's very odd that no pro private school parents live near good state schools, and all pro state school parents do).

The majority on the list are selective and lots are grammars. As you would expect!

Just by looking at local to me schools, this list is completely out of date

St Barts in Newbury is an outstanding school. It has consistently been an excellent school since the 90s at least. Last Ofsted was outstanding in every category (in last year or two), relatively new head who is not likely to go anywhere any time soon.

£400k would only buy you a small 3 bed though.

North bucks. Aylesbury has grammar schools (3 in total) and is in your price range. Be careful with secondaries though. Buckingham and Winslow have family houses at your price point and the Royal Latin Grammar in Buckingham. It’s “good” but it’s also a fab school. Two secondaries if you need them. Top choice: Waddesdon in Bucks. CofE secondary. Outstanding and very sought after. You must live in small catchment or find God. You have the Aylesbury grammars too if living in that area. For grammars, it’s good value housing.

Bear in mind many of the "outstanding" schools haven't been inspected for 10 years or more.
My dd's school is so called outstanding, but in reality are anything but. They've had three or four different heads in that time and converted to an academy.

Torbay is brilliant if you’re confident your child can pass 11+. Awful if not though 😬

The only problem is school ratings may change as you’ve got so much time before you need to apply for secondary. Good luck, I remember those stressful times!

Agree with Lancaster, also great place to live

St Francis Xavier and Richmond School and Sixth Form in Richmond, North Yorkshire are both excellent schools with large rural catchment areas (free school bus in years 7-11 to Richmond School) and not much pressure on places due to low population density. Polam Hall in nearby Darlington was a private school until recently but has now moved into the state sector. Housing is within your budget.

Lancaster
Ribble Valley
Sheffield
York
Bucks

Lots of good schools, though most need 11+
Reasonable prices in the north for houses too!

York has lots of excellent schools, all comprehensive, so no need to worry about the 11+ or stress if you have a less academic child. There is an outstanding sixth form college as well as the school sixth forms, so again,plenty to suit for most children. Your budget will get you a slightly shabby-looking three bedroom house with a garden, in need of cosmetic updating but structurally fine and probably with the possibility of extending or a loft conversion in the future, in the catchment area of an outstanding school.

Been recommended Bishop Heber at Malpas.

I would highly recommend Royal Wootton Basset academy near Swindon. Hasn't been OFSTED for a number of years but was outstanding, friends that work there think its still going from strength to strength.

The tricky thing is that what you are after is the best school for your child.

My local school is on that list (Midlands so not London prices) and a decent family house (4 bed, detached, bit of a garden) is £850,000. A 3 bed semi is £450 - £500,000. There is absolutely a massive premium for being in the catchment.

I can afford to live here because I live in a small flat with no room for children so the premium doesn’t apply.

Echo Northern Ireland

11+ done here at 11

Excellent grammar schools

I live in a 5 bed detached with garage that I bought for £275k and is now worth £350k

13 minute train from Belfast
17 minute drive to city centre

Plenty in Hertfordshire

You can sell your house at the end of it, so maybe worth it if you can stump up to buy one in the first place.

.... posted too soon

... keep them separate from big, smelly teenagers until they are one.

It's no different to a private school.

You just pay with house prices instead of to the school directly. It's a wonderful school.

I absolutely love the first/middle/high school system my children are working through, in the HD8 area of West Yorks. All the schools are good or outstanding, and people move to the area for the schools.

Scissett Middle School/Kirkburton Middle School (both y6-8), feeding into Shelley College. The middle schools 1- allow older primary age children a bit more independence, but 2- keep them separate fr

Balcarras in Cheltenham is outstanding.
You need to live close and maybe £400 is not enough.

A lot of the schools in the link above are grammar schools, so while many are excellent some are super selective.